IU basketball center Oumar Ballo named to Preseason All-Big Ten Team

IU basketball has it’s first set of preseason Big Ten Honors.

As it was announced Tuesday afternoon, Indiana basketball center Oumar Ballo was named to Preseason All-Big Ten Team. He was the only player for the IU basketball roster to make a preseason All-Big Ten Team.

Below is the full release.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana sixth-year senior center Oumar Ballo was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team as determined by a media vote, the league announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Ballo, a transfer from Arizona, was twice named to the All-Pac-12 First Team, a two-time All-Pac-12 Tournament Team selection, a 2023-24 All-Pac-12 Defensive Team addition, and was tabbed as the Pac-12 Most Improved Player following the 2022-23 season. He was also touted as the Preseason Big Ten Newcomer of the Year, Preseason All-Big Ten, and Preseason All-America Fourth Team by Blue Ribbon Yearbook.

The Koulikoro, Mali, native averaged 11.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocked shots in three seasons with the Wildcats. He shot 64.6% (466-of-721) from the floor and collected 34 career double-doubles. The 7-0, 265-pound center holds a record of 112-20 in 132 games played throughout his collegiate career.

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Braden Smith, Purdue

PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM

Ace Baldwin Jr., Penn State

Oumar Ballo, Indiana

Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern

Dawson Garcia, Minnesota

Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Great Osobor, Washington

Payton Sandfort, Iowa

Jackson Shelstad, Oregon

BRADEN SMITH, PURDUE

Bruce Thornton, Ohio State

SEE ALSO: One question facing all 12 Indiana basketball players entering the summer

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